Hawks ready for prime time?
Philips Arena better get ready for a few close ups this season now that the Hawks are scheduled for seven nationally televised games this season.
HAWKSVILLE - Mike Woodson has been asking for it since he got here.
He’s was selling the Hawks as a potential prime-time player when they were stuck in the mud of a 26-win season. “Win,” the sixth-year Hawks coach would say often, “and everything else takes care of itself.”
Everything else seems to be falling into place these days. And that includes the Hawks’ position as true “prime-time players” during the 2009-10 season (the schedule was released this afternoon). The Hawks will be on one of the league’s network broadcasts a whopping seven times this season (matching their combined total from the previous 11 years). Six times they’ll play on ESPN and once on TNT.
After going without a single nationally televised regular-season game during his first four seasons at the helm, Woodson’s Hawks clawed out two appearances last season, one that was added after the season was already underway. He admitted to being fired up at the prospect of his team being on display this season. “I do feel a little bit like it’s overdue,” he said. “We thought we were a team worthy last season, but we kept our heads down and kept working. It all comes in time.”
Hawks coach Mike Woodson says any national love his team receives this season and beyond has been well earned.
Woodson relished the opportunity for his team steal a little of the spotlight last year, even if they did lose both of those nationally televised games (to Boston and Cleveland). But anyone wondering what kind of boost back-to-back playoff appearances can have on a franchise, need only check out the Hawks rising profile.
Woodson has been gushing about the Philips Arena crowds and the added advantage those home crowds gave his team since the playoff run against Boston two years ago. It seemed laughable then, when the Hawks were still struggling to fill up the place against the undesirables on the schedule. Yet no one can argue that those playoff crowds lacked any of the fervor needed to rile the rest of the feathered masses.
“The first four years we were here we couldn’t have bought our way onto the air,” Woodson said. “But since we’ve made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons you could sense things were turning around for us. And this is huge. This is a huge turnaround and one that I think goes right along with all the strides we’ve made as a team and franchise.”
The Hawks open the season Oct. 28 at Philips Arena against Indiana. The first nationally televised game is Nov. 13 in Boston, while four of the TV games will originate from Philips Arena, starting with the Thanksgiving night contest against the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic (8 p.m.). In addition to that Thanksgiving night game, the Hawks will also ring in the New Year by hosting the New York Knicks Jan. 1 at 7:30.
“This is a testament to our players and the work they’ve put in,” Woodson said. “When you turn things around and stick to your plan, good things happen. Right now, I think we’re seeing the rewards of all our hard work.”
It’s certainly a good start.
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112 comments Add your comment
True Hawks Fan
August 4th, 2009
1:43 pm
first
True Hawks Fan
August 4th, 2009
1:46 pm
Okay, now let’s sign Marvin.
Ben
August 4th, 2009
1:52 pm
Get a BIG man in here ASAP! WTF are we doing?
Rufus1
August 4th, 2009
2:00 pm
Sekou
FINALLY A LITTLE RESPECT!!! We are the Jeffersons…”Moving on UP”
mountain_jim
August 4th, 2009
2:01 pm
Means I can watch more this year (in NC and not willing to spend on the overpriced Season Pass)…
BrittishAnger
August 4th, 2009
2:02 pm
Fantastic news, old Davey Stein hooked it up, and we don’t have to wade through a three week period of road games like last season…Very Nice….
Rufus1
August 4th, 2009
2:05 pm
I will be buying a game package this year. The Hawks will now get some of my money. The organization is acting like they want to win and I appreciate it.
HAVE SOME $$$$$$$$$$
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
2:06 pm
Definitely an anchievement for the team. Nice to know that ESPN thinks that they can sell advertisement time for a game involving he Hawks. Interesting that we make very early West Coast trip after 1-2 games. We have been playing the Lakers after the All-Star break for the past few years, now we have them on 11/1. I guess that is a good thing.
CONGRATS to the Hawks. Now let’s make sure that we win at least 5 of those 7 nationally televised games.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
2:09 pm
Hawks ‘09-10 schedule:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/schedule?team=atl
Rufus1
August 4th, 2009
2:11 pm
Win 4…Compete in the other 3
Rufus1
August 4th, 2009
2:11 pm
Enter your comments here
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
2:29 pm
Interesting, Acie Law’s first home pro game was against his home town Dallas Mavs. And Teague’s first home game will be against his home town Indy Pacers. Let’s hope the similarities end there.
STRETCH
August 4th, 2009
2:31 pm
Those games will probably be with the bullies of the East, so they can humiliate the Hawks on national TV…LOL!
doc
August 4th, 2009
3:02 pm
now things will be complete when the BASG graces us with a complete roster to include one more big man in some form to carry the heavy load. it would be a disgrace to the fans, players and national attention if they left this important issue undone this off season. open your fiscal door a little wider for all to see you are truly going for something in the short term as well as the long term. no excuses now. dont wait too much longer here BASG.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
3:05 pm
doc, other than Joe Smith, is there anyone left who is worhty of opening the “fiscal door”? Plenty of minimum wage guys left but I struggle to find any one worth more than the bare minimum (other than Maryland Joe).
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
3:06 pm
Previous post is restricted to UFAs.
PD
August 4th, 2009
3:20 pm
Anakin Joe I wish the Hawks went after Ryan Hollins or kept Solo and used. He was only considered bad because he lacked the minutes to develop. If he was really that bad the Hawks would have never started the fews times they had to start him.
Brian D
August 4th, 2009
3:29 pm
53 wins this year baby!!!! Please sign joe smith or perhaps ben wallace, robert swift. Go hawks!!! I am a hawks fan who lives in cleveland, ohio. Kinda wish we kept solo but whatever. The hawks need to run some different offensive sets this year.pick and pop with zaza, more of marvin ( sign please by the way), josh posting up not shooting jumpers. He abused varajao in the playoffs.
PDubATL
August 4th, 2009
3:34 pm
Serviceable PF/Cs (other than Joe Smith): Sean Marks, Jarron Collins
Serviceable SFs (we need 1 more): Rodney Carney, Gerald Green
newkid
August 4th, 2009
3:41 pm
First impression: great to finally get some national exposure after such a long drought; second impression: Woody sounds as if he’s in full blown sales mode (for contract extension). Would like to contribute a buck to help Woody purchase an adjective/adverb to supplement the trite ‘huge’.
UGA
August 4th, 2009
3:51 pm
I would not be opposed to Carney. From what I remember, he can shoot the 3 ok. We do need another 3 (SF).
Shawn
August 4th, 2009
3:53 pm
Does anyone proofread these blogs? Some of the most egregious and despeciable writing errors I’ve ever seen in my 46 years.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
3:59 pm
newkid…. Your 3:41 post ws HUGE! :LOL:
I’ll chip in a dollar for a thesaurus for Woody. He needs to get his national TV vocabulary ready for those quick interviews during TV time-outs.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
3:59 pm
:LOL:
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
4:01 pm
Shawn, go to http://www.kateturabian.com for banter featuring better use of the language. We’re too busy discussing basketball to spell check each and every post.
Melvin
August 4th, 2009
4:04 pm
Don’t like our upcoming season schedule at all. Hawks play a bunch of scrub/no exciting teams on the weekends.
Whats up with the game vs Detroit on Sun, Nov 29 @1pm? Why would they schedule that day and time slot during football season?
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
4:12 pm
Melvin, good call on the 11/29 game. Falcons are at home against Tampa. Strange to compete aginst the Falcons in this city… even if it is Tampa (who should be awful this season). They should have tried to schedule the game as part of a sports doubleheader, like if the Falcons game started at 4:15, it would be perfect.
chaz
August 4th, 2009
4:16 pm
2010-11 payroll
bibby 6M + marvin 7.5M + josh 11.5M + al 5.5M
crawford 10M + teague 2M + mo 2.5M + zaza 5M
= 50M for 8 players. assume we sign 3 scrubs for 1M each to fill out the roster, and we are already at 53M before we sign JJ (payroll was 68M last year and is currently around 64M for this season).
so unless JJ takes less than his current 15M salary to stay here, how do we resign him without expanding payroll (which doesn’t seem too likely) or trading away a key piece of the core? signing a joe smith, hunter, green, etc. to anything more than a 1-year deal will just make it that much more difficult to resign JJ and keep the core together next summer.
everyone (even sund) knows we need a backup big man, but unless joe smith or someone else out there can get us past the 2nd round, maybe sund is wise to fill out the roster with scrubs and 1-year contracts, let them fight for the 4th seed for one more season, and save the money for next summer.
i would like to have joe smith but not if it means we wouldn’t be able to make JJ a competitive offer next summer or we would have to trade away a key player to make it happen. this hawks team is probably not better than a 4 seed whether your backup big guy is a solid vet like joe smith or a cheap bum like randmo.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
4:42 pm
Chaz, you are right. Add in Teague and we’re the Atlanta 9 + Scrubs. And not just for ‘09-10 but also for ‘10-11, since all of the guys you mentioned are signed beyond this season. So without trading one of our core for an expiring contract before the end of February, this same problem will exist next summer (with regard to adding a viable big for the bench). And with the salary cap forecasted to shrink (and payroll increasing from annual raises), we may have to consider moving our 1st round pick to ensure that we have room to reseign Joe Johnson. That would be another $2M (approximately) to add to the payroll.
doc
August 4th, 2009
4:48 pm
aj i think it would be a HUGE move if the basg opened it to do just that. that is all that is necessary and they got 2 mil for anderson to boot. open the door one time as the numbers have dwindled as you have pointed out.
newk sorry, heh heh
doc
August 4th, 2009
4:51 pm
win now, worry about the signings later. how can you assume jj will be back and save money for him now.
oh, i meant that is how the big boys do it, forgot it was the basg we are dealing with.
GeeMack
August 4th, 2009
4:57 pm
Still won’t win a championship, or get past the 2nd rd.
Hip Hop Is Dead
August 4th, 2009
5:03 pm
I sure hope the Hawks can go after Primo Brezec. Not like he wants Shaq money
Deep
August 4th, 2009
5:05 pm
I’m going to go get my tickets to see the Hawks Nov. 3rd in Portland as soon as they go on sale. I will talk enough smack to the Trailblazer fans for all of us! I’m pumped!
Deep
August 4th, 2009
5:07 pm
Hey SEKOU….. Any chance we’ll see Flip here again. He was such a big part of what we did last year.
wink
August 4th, 2009
5:12 pm
This being on in prime time is not a big deal. Coach Woodson you still have to play all the game regardless of who is watching & whether it’s PRIME TIME or not.
You got one thing right, it is a testament to the players, because you bring nothing to the table.
We usually get blasted in prime time games, not just the Hawks, all the Atlanta sports team. Was’nt that 4 game sweep by Cleveland considered prime time?? What were the results….that’s what I thought!!
On another note, Yahoo sports & Chuck Doodle reported Marvin signed a 5 year contract…why has it not been confirmed here???
newkid
August 4th, 2009
5:16 pm
Now that we’re going national, doc’s BASG should conduct a one-week early September ‘press camp’ for Woody wherein he’s re-introduced to the full Howard Cosell ‘Speaking of Sports’ audio library. And for good measure invite Dominique in for a few days as well.
Big Ray
August 4th, 2009
5:42 pm
Doc,
Well, it would be nice if that door was opened. Oh wait, that’s not the problem. The problem is that Sund absolutely refuses to sign a FA veteran big man of any repute. Yep, it’s been his MO for years. Doesn’t like big men. Doesn’t want Woody to have one. Only likes guards, and wants to overpay for all of them.
By the way, I wonder if Bibby’s $15 million dollar contract last year was as crippling to the big man cause as Crawford’s $10 million dollar contract is this year? Nah. Not possible…
Big Ray
August 4th, 2009
5:46 pm
Newkid,
There’s no help for ol’ “Heat Check”….
Hoops
August 4th, 2009
6:23 pm
Trade Possibility!
It is being reported on HoopsHype that the Bucks are very interested in making a trade for one of their players to free up salary space to be able to re-sign Sessions. They don’t want to take a player back in the trade.
So, since the Hawks need a PF-C, why don’t we offer a 2nd round draft pick (we have two next year-Houston) to the Bucks for Francisco Elson? He has an expiring contract for 1.7M. He is 7′0″, 240lbs, & 33 yrs. old. He avg. 3.4PPG, 3.9RPG, and shot 49%.
This makes too much since. The Bucks want to get rid of a player and take on no returning contract. The Hawks need a BIG with an expiring contract at a reasonable price and they have an extra 2nd round pick next year.
Rick Sund, here is what you are looking for!!!
realsquawk
August 4th, 2009
6:24 pm
clippers have 8 and that is a problem with me
Volman
August 4th, 2009
6:26 pm
I can’t STAND the thought of Mike Woodson Mic’d up for seven games…SEVEN GAMES.
“Ummm..Okay, now Bibby..you bring the ball up… Joe you post, pass it to Smoove for the three at the end of the shot clock. DEFEND…REBOUND…AND RUN!!!”
He is so terrible on those end-of-quarter interviews. It’s painfully embarrassing. You can tell the man can’t think on his feet quickly (I wonder if that’s why he can’t make adjustments in-game.)
O'Brien
August 4th, 2009
6:27 pm
The Hawks lost both prime time games last year (as mentioned above). Let’s hope they do better this year. To me, at least 4-3, but no more than one double digit loss.
Woody has openly campaigned for another big, so at least we know he is not the hold up. It comes down to Sund/ASG. Is Sund playing hard ball (like he allegedly did with Chills), or is the ASG not signing off on the deal? I dont know.
What I do know, is the Hawks need another quality big, because size wise, we dont match up well with the top 3 in the East. And with Woody’s refusal to utilize our athleticsm/running game, we will get outmuscled consistently.
And if one player in our front court gets hurt for an extended period of time, we could be in trouble (Solo played well last year when Josh was hurt. I guess this time we would play RandMo a lot…yikes).
Hoops,
that is an interesting trade that I would look into (if Joe says no).
UGA
August 4th, 2009
6:29 pm
I’ve been suggesting trading with the Bucks for awhile. Kurt Thomas is another name also.
If they sign Sessions, they may try to find a taker for Ridnour.
richbrave
August 4th, 2009
6:36 pm
Just wanted to let you know the WIZARDS fans give the HAWKS no respect. A poll on the WASHINGTON POST lists the games a WIZ fan should point most to. ATLANTA’s nowhere to be found except in the “some other team” catagory. Only eight people out of 100 including myself chose this option, and who knows what team the others meant. The HAWKS get no respect in D.C. The WIZARDS are going to claim the eastern division championship. HAWKS may as well not show up. Didn’t you know we have FABRICIO OBERTO AND GILBERT ARENAS now? Mail it in guys. The season’s over. LOL. The day I see AGENT ZERO playing like his old self is the day I eat my sombrero. LOL.
richbrave
August 4th, 2009
6:38 pm
Hey, doc. Haven’t seen you over on the BRAVES blogs lately? Vacation? ‘Zup man.
doc
August 4th, 2009
6:48 pm
hey richie, couldnt buy into them this year so i have fallen by the wayside.
and yes i have been out of touch and out of the loop in north ga, totally away from the computer and phone for the first time in years. it was good.
you okay my friend?
darrell starks
August 4th, 2009
6:49 pm
Did you guys see that schedula woody will be gone by nov. unless rick sund step his game up.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
7:06 pm
doc called the Braves before the season even began.
Bored again, Ray? Upset that the team’s overall budget is insufficient, huh? Hey, maybe we’ll fire the scouting department like the Grizzlies did recently.
Hip Hop Is Dead
August 4th, 2009
7:32 pm
The Clippers have 3 national TV games this year.
interesting
bigeasy830
August 4th, 2009
7:46 pm
I was watching highlights of mini-camp. That Russian guy, Yaroslav Koroslev looked impressive. He is a former first round pick that is listed as 6-10 245lbs and very skilled. He looked like he can play the 3 or 4 at times. Sekou what is his chances at making the team also, what is Sundiata Gaines chances. He looked impressive also. I know the Hawks are staked at guard now but I would love to see the former bulldog on the squad.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
7:51 pm
Blake Griffin has some nationally televised games. And I would guess that the #1 draft pick probably always gets a few marketing opportunities.
I understand that Chick-Fil-A is going to be the featured sponsor of the Atlanta Hawks for the next two seasons. Their slogan will be “The Highlight Factory… No Beef Here”. Harry Hawk will be replaced by a seven-foot Chick-Fil-A cow named “Kobe”… because seven footers are WAYYY expensive, just like kobe beef.
I wonder how much our next head coach will be offered? If they hire Tree Rollins, he can coach the Dream also and the ASG could split the costs with the Dream’s owner.
Aussie Hawks Fan
August 4th, 2009
8:22 pm
Has anyone thought about trading for Stoudmire on here?
Everyone seems to think we need a big man so why don’t we go after one of the top 5 big men in the league. Josh Smith and Marvin Williams, when he resigns, would match the salaries I think and leave us with a starting backcourt of Bibby and Johnson with Crawford and Teague backing up. Front court of Stoudmire, Horford and Evans, backed up by Paachulia and one more player, either FA agent signing or trade.
That would give us a supestar guard (Johnson) and a superstar big man (Stoudmire)and then with that roster we would be able to really challenge for a title.
Big risk brings big reward
Hoops
August 4th, 2009
8:55 pm
Aussie,
You are about 40 blogs too late. It won’t happen!
Shawn
August 4th, 2009
9:28 pm
Sekou, thanks so much for coming back from vacation and telling us of Woodson’s pleasure with this team’s maturity. I am so proud of Woodson! He is a man of brilliance
Hip Hop Is Dead
August 4th, 2009
9:48 pm
After looking at the schedule and analyzing it, I have only one thing to say:
FIRE MIKE WOODSON
doc
August 4th, 2009
9:55 pm
aj i really tried too to like them, maybe next year.
how about a 6 and 4 start to the season? tough road to start on.
kobe?
ILL-logical
August 4th, 2009
10:04 pm
A great former mayor of Atlanta once said that new occasions require new duties. With the increased national profile, the Hawks are going to have increased scrutiny. Coaching, which was roundly criticized during the playoffs; fan support and players are all now under a different standard.A standard that won’t be altered because of advertising or other local relationships. Another statement comes to mind as well: be careful what you pray for, you just might get it.
Aussie Hawks Fan
August 4th, 2009
10:13 pm
Might not happen but it would have to be a good trade for both teams. I love J-Smooth and Marvin but we need that big guy and conversely how much fun would it be to see J-Smoove play with Nash. You think you seen that guy do some highlights in Atlanta, imagine what he’d do with Nash giving him the ball in that offence.
We a bit behind here in Australia mate. We are too busy throwin another shrimp on the barbie!! Hard enough getting a NBA game live here (2 a week) let alone a Hawks game.
Hoops
August 4th, 2009
10:22 pm
Aussie,
This season you are going to get 7 opportunities to see the Hawks on National TV!!! We are finally getting some respect.
Aussie Hawks Fan
August 4th, 2009
10:26 pm
We will see mate. I only saw one of our games last year because they choose the second game of a double header instead of showing the Hawks. I have to listen on the radio via the net for the games. No coverage at all. I mean on cable here they show two games a week. Crazy!!
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
10:29 pm
If any of the Hawks have All-Star game aspirations, they should put in the work NOW to take advantage of the national exposure. Other than Teague and Horford (the only two still on rookie contracts), none of the commentators should be using words like “potential”, “promise” or “upside” when discussing our players.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
10:31 pm
Aussie Hawks Fan, how did you become a Hawks fan? Are you originally from the Atlanta area? What’s your “Hawks tale”?
The Truth
August 4th, 2009
10:33 pm
This is an excerpt from Woody’s interview back in July:
Q. Free agency is obviously still going on, but how comfortable are you with the roster, as it stands now, heading into training camp?
A. I feel comfortable. I feel like we’ve bettered our team by bringing in Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague and then keeping Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia in the fold, but we still have a lot of work to do in terms of helping out our [big men]. We need a few more bigs to solidify our team as we move towards camp. We still have the rest of the summer to look at free-agent bigs and figure out who makes sense for our team. That’s of the utmost importance to our team right now, but I love our nucleus.
Even Woody acknowledges the obvious. If Woody does not get what he wants with the acquisition of more help on the frontline, he is building his case early if he falls short of winning more then 47 wins and advancing farther this upcoming season. When you think about it, Woody will have a valid point. How can anyone expect him to break into the elite with a thin frontline based on the eastern conference landscape? As much as we have criticized Woody coaching in the past, he will gain sympathy for being dealt a bad hand by Sund if things stay as they are. If Sund does not realize it already, this drum beat will not end; it will get louder and louder. If he is smart, he would hold a press conference and clear the air; because as things stand now the speculations are running wild. Perhaps this was the mistake that BK made that cost him his job. Yes it was framed that he resigned, but we all know otherwise.
Aussie Hawks Fan
August 4th, 2009
10:43 pm
Mate, I am a born and breed Australian. I was hoping Anderson might end up with the Hawks so there was a bit more coverage or we’d draft Paddy Mills in the draft, but got neither. By the way, don’t worry about losing Anderson, I don’t think he would’ve helped us. He looked terrible in the Olympics. Just another big white stiff.
Hawks story is went to friends house one day and he had a Hawks banner. I decided I would support them and the Braves. Then I actually watched them play and the Human Highlight Film was in action. Wow i was hooked with the Hawks from then on in. Plus everyone went for the Lakers or the Bulls over here so I liked to be a little different. Thats about it mate. Thank god for the internet for the past 10-15 years. Only way I can follow them.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
10:47 pm
Truth, Woody will need to come up with a better excuse since we may not have a viable back-up big man in ‘10-11 either. If he can’t play this year’s hand, then he likely won’t have success playing almost the identical hand the following season. And hopefully, it will be easier for Sund not to re-sign Woody (if it comes to that) than it was for BK to fire Woody. If nothing else, there won’t be a financial penalty associated with not re-newing his contract.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
10:52 pm
Aussie Hawks Fan, great story. I was wondering if ‘Nique had anything to do with you being a fan. I hope that you decide to post here more frequently. We’re mostly a cordial bunch. Mostly.
Hoops
August 4th, 2009
10:57 pm
Aussie,
Who are the best basketball players coming along “Down Under” right now that we should keep an eye out for in the future?
MannyT
August 4th, 2009
11:01 pm
Big Wood throws Big talk for Big interview…revisited
Another big man could help this team in epic proportions. Given the large investment we have made in winning, a mammoth opportunity is here for the Hawks right now. The 2009-10 season will require a gargantuan effort from heavy-dutyHorford in the post. We need to add girth and bulk if there is a mountain of a man out there to pick up at this point in the off-season. Our undersized PF, Josh will have to bring a Hurculean effort every night.
This season can play massive minutes with a burly backcourt now that Jamal Crawford is in the mix. The pieces are coming together. If it works, Woody is in line for a collosal commitment from the ASG for the immense improvement over the past 5 years…and possibly a new nickname–Coach Red Wood or Sequoia.
If only he would add Tiny Archibald to the staff to show that enormous efforts can come in creatively concentrated citizens
BWAF
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
11:05 pm
That was HUGE, Manny!
Mystikal
August 4th, 2009
11:17 pm
SEKOU, We waiting to hear the real deal when you ready!!
Aussie Hawks Fan
August 4th, 2009
11:23 pm
Well most of our good young players go to college in the States. There is no college competition here in Oz so they have three options – play here in Oz in our professional league, which seems to go bust every three years. Play college in the states which seems pretty popular. Play overseas in Europe but that really only happens once they older.
I would’ve thought Paddy Mills was our best young player. Watching him in the Olympics he was awesome, even against the States. He should have stayed in college. The other best young players are Joe Ingles, who did summer league with the Warriors or Craig Newley who is in Europe but the Rockets have his rights or Nathan Jahdi, who got traded to the Mavericks and is a big lad. But basketball people here over rate all our players. They say our guys with exceptional physical skills and athleticism are really average in the States. Basketball would be about the 7th or 8th sport here. Very niche.
Hawk n the Ham
August 4th, 2009
11:26 pm
Manny, I like Sequoia…..or Oak Head
Sekou's twitter stalker
August 5th, 2009
1:39 am
In case y’all got confused, “Hip Hop is Dead” is the new handle for “A Tribe Called Quest” – he tweeted it yesterday then deleted it.
Ed
August 5th, 2009
3:46 am
Sekou said on Twitter that the Hawks and JJ’s camp are in contract extention negotiations in California. This is exactly what needs to happen…get it done!
sillent
August 5th, 2009
5:17 am
Seen the schedule and predicting a 34 – 19 record before the all-star break. If we keep Marvin & core of course and maybe add some other favorable options. Not predicting past that currently because of trades and other exceptions(injuries,chemistry,momentum,etc.). If my prediction goes as plan past game 10 I’ll post My win/lost record percentage and my reasoning for the predictions.
Big Ray
August 5th, 2009
6:53 am
Truth,
All coaches have expiration dates. As many times as people mention the team improving from year to year, Woody still only has one winning season. Sund does need to add a big man or two to the roster. As has been said too many times already, the offseason isn’t over, and things can also be done during the season if that’s when deals develop. However, I wouldn’t assume that Woody gets an extension and Sund gets walking papers just yet. That might be music to some people’s ears but I just wouldn’t bet on it yet. In fact, both guys may be here for a while for all I know.
I want us to win. If that takes keeping or losing both guys, then so be it, either way.
I guarantee you Sund ain’t worried about all of us locals beating the drum for a big man. He’s much more concerned with how much money he can spend on whom. Like all financial decisions within the franchise, the final one ain’t his.
Big Ray
August 5th, 2009
7:19 am
We’ll probably end up with a Stromile Swift, Mikki Moore, or some other bottom of the barrel veteran big man…or two. Unless of course we can offer Smith enough money to NOT go back to Cleveland for the purposes of occupying the bench.
Gosh if only Sund hadn’t traded for Crawford. Now the season is lost.
Hoops
August 5th, 2009
8:07 am
Big Ray,
I feel that after Marvin’s contract is finalized, we will get Joe Smith signed. Sund will know exactly how much money he has available. It sounds like the hold up is not necessarily money but length of contract. They will probably end of agreeing on two years with the 2nd year being a team option. We’ll be fine!
Daniel
August 5th, 2009
8:21 am
Hoops-
I love your optimism. Boy, I sure hope that you are right.
In terms of the national games… ’bout time! Although, honestly they deserve more games, I mean Golden State and the Wizards have more national tv games. What’s up?
The Sunday game against Detroit can still be moved to 4:30, which would only make sense.
Daniel
August 5th, 2009
8:24 am
Big Ray- I don’t see the hold up with Smith being the amount of money as much as it is the years. I have a feeling that they have offered 1 year with a club option and he wants two years.
Would you commit two years (with JJ being UFA) to Joe Smith?
Honestly, I think that I would.
Sekou Smith
August 5th, 2009
8:56 am
Big G is coming to training camp
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/08/05/nba_543341.shtml
The schedule doesn’t look any more or less wicked than it ever has. Hawks will have to come out o the gate strong like last year. But that’s what good teams usually do anyway, so …
An extension for Joe is a must this summer. No way you let him get to the summer of 2010. No way!
Melvin
August 5th, 2009
9:08 am
Now that we have Siler coming to camp, let’s go sign Joe Smith…
doc
August 5th, 2009
9:16 am
hoops sounds good and reasonable, however that has not been in high quantities until the last two months around these parts. i would prefer that we hear it from sekou or the man sund himself. yes that is my hope as well, been hoping a long time if you know what i mean.
Anakin Joe
August 5th, 2009
9:21 am
Very good news on Siler. I can’t help but like the kid. Seems like he has a big personailty to go with his size.
I remember those early blogs about contacting Rasheed, Gortat and McDyess. That seems light years ago. Now we’re excited about Skinner, Stromile and Shelden. Oops, I forgot, even some of the celler-dwellers are signing deals. Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock.
Steve
August 5th, 2009
9:21 am
Siler is a PR move….dude is big but can’t play. This is just all media hype, not a chance this guy gets a contract.
Sautee
August 5th, 2009
9:25 am
Sekou,
If an extension for JJ is a must, can those details be holding up the Smith signing?
Sautee
August 5th, 2009
9:28 am
AJ,
Maybe YOU are excited about Skinner or Stromile but (yawn) not me.
PDubATL
August 5th, 2009
9:29 am
I know it was just Summer League, but Siler outplayed Thabeet and BJ Mullens. He impressed in the Hawks mini-camp, and didn’t appear to be too worn down after playing significant minutes in Vegas. There’s definitely a chance that he’ll get a contract.
Anakin Joe
August 5th, 2009
9:29 am
If Sund could trade Mo Evans for a truly decent big like Craig Smith (same salary), then we would be almost set. Just the fine-tuning around guys like Hunter, Siler, etc.
Or maybe the same NBA Governor who approved $20M over 2 years will approve around $3-4M over two years for Joe Smith.
Anakin Joe
August 5th, 2009
9:33 am
Sautee, I mentioned in a blog post yesterday that we will have to find a way to accept whomever Sund gets to complete the roster, even if they are undrafted FAs from local community colleges… or Stromile, Michael Ruffin, Scott Pollard, etc. Just trying to be Mr. Optimistic about the bright future of the remainder of our summer.
Daniel
August 5th, 2009
9:47 am
Sekou- I hear you on Joe Johnson, but the smart move would be to see if Lebron, Wade, Bosch, et. al get extended this summer. If they do, then you have to get Joe done, because then he becomes very sought afte. If there are several big name free agents plus shrinking cap room, then Joe is mostly likely to stay with the Hawks even with FA. So, it seems to me that you finish Marvin first, then sign Joe Smith, decide how to round out the roster, then come Sept. depending on how things are shaping up, then deal with Joe.
Daniel
August 5th, 2009
9:48 am
Anakin Joe- who plays SF then?
Daniel
August 5th, 2009
9:49 am
would you rather have Gerald Green/ Craig Smith or Mo Evans/ Joe Smith?
Shon Ka
August 5th, 2009
9:50 am
People are always talking about we need a Big name free agent. No we have guys that are making a name for themselves now. We have the makings of a very good team. I feel that by next year we will be a top three team in the East.
Cleveland has big names, but old talent, Boston has old talent and a weak bench, Orlando picked up a shooter, but no defense.
Big Ray
August 5th, 2009
9:51 am
“Young joked with Siler about slipping Atlanta head coach Mike Woodson $50 at the Hawks’ minicamp two weeks ago because Woodson speaks so highly of the 7-foot, 278-pound center.
“(Woodson) liked me a lot,” Siler said. “The assistant general manager likes me. The regular general manager likes me.
Glad the coach and GM feel the same about the guy. Glad to see him coming to camp.
Anakin Joe
August 5th, 2009
10:00 am
Daniel, I like Othella Hunter as a back-up SF. Most likely, Marvin and Joe will easily play 40-42 minutes of the 48 minutes at that position. So Hunter wouldn’t have to do too much. I personally don’t like the idea of Joe trying to guard big SFs like LeBron, Granger and Hedo for more than 2-3 minutes per half. I’d much rather see Marvin and Hunter try to “contain” those guys for the vast majority of the game. But we know that the Hawks have enjoyed success with 3 guards on the floor together, so I know that Joe will surely play more than a few minutes at SF with Bibby/Teague & Crawford/Evans in the backcourt.
Big Ray
August 5th, 2009
10:02 am
Sautee,
You just don’t understand. If we don’t sign Skinner or Swift (or somebody like that), the Hawks will lose and Woody will get fired. Seriously. It all hinges on that.
….or so I heard…
Big Ray
August 5th, 2009
10:04 am
I don’t want to see Joe guarding the bigger/stronger small forwards in the league either. To avoid that, one simply need to have a firm grasp on in-game adjustments. Heh….
Big Ray
August 5th, 2009
10:05 am
Siler is a PR move….dude is big but can’t play. This is just all media hype, not a chance this guy gets a contract.
…..DING…
Melvin
August 5th, 2009
10:09 am
I’m going to get my Siler jersey as soon as they go on sale…
Double DING….
Anakin Joe
August 5th, 2009
10:12 am
Ray, you’re doing that spit ball thing again. Who suggested that Stromile/Skinner was the key to the team’s success?
Anakin Joe
August 5th, 2009
10:16 am
Daniel, sorry, I missed your other question. I’m not a big Gerald Green fan. Craig Smith has an expiring contract, so trading for him not only addresses our back-up forward issue but it also sheds $2.5M off our payroll next season. And creating some payroll flexibility for next summer seems (to me at least) like something that needs to happen between now and the end of February.
aaron
August 5th, 2009
10:31 am
Sekou,
Read an espn analysis of our roster saying we’d have jamal starting at the 2 and moving joe to 3, Al at 4, and ZaZa starting at center…bringing Josh and Marvin off the bench. Josh off the bench is not a good idea for alot of reasons in my opinion and ZaZa is not starter material. Woody doesn’t consider that an option right? Just want to confirm it was the journalist’s ideas and not ours.
Sautee
August 5th, 2009
11:01 am
AJ,
I thought that Ray was doing his best Astro Joe impression. Just from another viewpoint.
doc
August 5th, 2009
11:14 am
around here folks, getting siler is a progressive move, i understand it isnt the answer.
Mike is back
August 5th, 2009
1:49 pm
Great Stuff Sekou…AND it’s good to see the Hawks getting some much deserved pub from the NBA. Still read on a tha blog on the reg…Gearing up for my road trip to drop my sweet pea off to college…I’m so sad. Heh heh
I have never been one of Woody’s voice box…but I would like to congratulate him for being apart of the renaissance of this franchise…man those were some lean years. Though I seldom agree with Woody’s offensive philosophy…you can’t argue with success…I know he has invested a lot of time and energy in this team…he deserve his just due…Surely he will step his game up now that he’s on the national stage.
I am particularly interested in how he will handle Teague…call me crazy but I think Woody already realize he will have to make room Teague in his rotation….will we see a different approach…or the SAME OLD WOODY????
Only time will tell…lets hope with the added exposure…comes added planning and strategy with his schemes and more patience with his young players…Yeah I drank some Kool Aide…for give me…I’m excited about the nationally televised game at Phillips…IS IT SOUP YET!!!
Ariose, U THA MAN DAWG!!!
BTW…its funny when we got our email about the upcoming schedule…Marvin name was on full display…it appear that earlier reports of Marvin signing may have had some credence…Sund is still on the grind…“C MON BASG”, give Sund two tree coins to sign a Big.LOL
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigdave
August 5th, 2009
3:05 pm
Blazers and Roy close to an 82 mil over 5 year extension…
Id like to see Joe get something comparable…
Ken Strickland
August 6th, 2009
7:48 pm
BIG RAY-yesterday you hit on a very good point when you said the team has improved each yr, but Woodson has only one winning season. I want to add to that thought. WHAT HAS WOODSON DONE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT ANNUAL INCREASE IN WINS AND THAT 1 WINNING SEASON.
(1) Has he developed his young players to effectively contribute off the bench and/or replace departed veterans? An emphatic NO!
(2) Has he effectively managed the mins of his key players, especially his starters? Again, an emphatic NO!
(3) Has he installed an OFF and DEF system, and employed a style of play, that takes maximum advantage of the talent that’s on our team? Again, an emphatic NO!
(4) Has he demonstrated the ability to utilize strategy, especially during gms, or the ability to get production out of players he doesn’t particularly like, or who’s talents aren’t a perfect fit for his limited OFF system and/or philosophy? An affirmative HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!
(5) Can it be said that Woodson has shown obvious and recognizable improvement as a HC, especially in the areas of utilizing strategy, managing key players mins, utilizing his bench and developing young players.?
If you can’t answer yes to at least half of the above questions, you have to consider that the Hawks, particularly over the last 2yrs, have progressed and achieved in spite of Woodson, not because of him.
TRUTH-SERUM
August 7th, 2009
6:53 pm
If the Hawks could land a legitimate center they could compete for the finals, other wise well be trying to fire Woody because ZAZA the slowest man in basketball with the shortest verticle leap, AKA Jon koncak cant play and we have a powerforward trying to be a center. The Hawks dont need help at center they need a CENTER!!!+
TRUTH-SERUM
August 7th, 2009
6:55 pm
Ken Strickland
August 6th, 2009
7:48 pm
Let the whinning begin!!! Its woody’s team! Great Job Woody!
Shout out to ken and team Bubba
superking
August 11th, 2009
2:57 am
those televised games were just another way to give the top three teams in the east national exposure and even though the hawks share the light with these same teams wtf does cleveland have two back to back games against them for.hope te hawks can when as a fan but they should compete hard and keep that national exposure talk as if its not happening .on paper barring a catastrophe out of that seven i only see two guaranteed games.hawks fans we can win more but that wasnt for atlanta hawks that was for top three in the east not the fourth out the east